The addition of two physicians this summer and more nursing staff to accompany the doctors are some of the new developments occurring at the group formerly known as Birmingham Hematology and Oncology Associates.

I met with the group's officials today, and they told me the medical staff additions are part of plans to meet anticipated increases in patient volumes. The group, headquartered at 500 Office Park Drive, also announced in a news release that it launched its website and renamed itself to Alabama Oncology to better reflect their service area.

Two medical oncologists and hematologists will join Alabama Oncology in August, while the group is actively recruiting a gynecologic oncologist, Executive Director Chris Barnes said. Founded in 1984, the group operates nine offices throughout Jefferson, Shelby and St. Clair counties and employs 16 doctors and a 100-plus person staff that includes nurses and lab technicians, he said.

"We expect high single digit growth in those patient volumes," Barnes said, adding that he expects patient volumes to increase 7 to 9 percent this year.

Each new doctor will prompt the addition of a registered nurse, and "as more patients come in, we may add more nurses there, as well," Barnes said. Alabama Oncology may also add a certified lab technician with the doctor additions, he said.

While he didn't provide exact figures, Barnes said the patient volume from outside the Birmingham area has significantly grown during the past three to five years. The cities and towns Alabama Oncology patients are based at include Anniston, Florence, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa, he said.

Alabama Oncology in 2012 performed more than 46,000 treatments, had more than 43,000 office visits and addressed more than 1,100 surgical cases, Barnes said. The group also has more than 200 active patients involved in upwards of 12 clinical trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, he said.

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